Thune considers standalone appropriations votes to revive authorities funding
The highest Senate Republican indicated Wednesday he could maintain votes on standalone payments to fund components of the federal government, amid an deadlock on the way to finish the shutdown.
Senate Majority Chief John Thune instructed Axios he is “ready” to maneuver some appropriations payments to the ground, together with the protection appropriations invoice, which has already handed the Home. A supply acquainted with his remarks confirmed Thune’s feedback to CBS Information.
Senate set to vote for seventh time on measures to fund the government
The Senate is expected to hold procedural votes midday Thursday on dueling measures to fund the government, trying to break the impasse for a seventh time after the bills last fell short of the 60 votes needed on Wednesday.
Republicans have aimed to peel off support from Democrats for a House-passed measure to keep the government funded until Nov. 21, while Democrats have a separate measure to fund the government through October that would also extend health insurance tax credits, which has become Democrats’ key demand in the funding fight.
Republicans have been unable to pick up any new support for their measure since the hours before the shutdown began. And with 53 Republicans in the upper chamber, support from Democrats is needed to advance a measure to fund the government.
Just one Democrat initially crossed the aisle to support the bill in a vote last month. But on the next vote on Sept. 30, two more senators crossed the aisle to back it. Since then, Republicans have been unable to peel off any additional support from Democrats in two more attempts.
